Yes you need to pay almost 5 times as much as you pay. Dont do that

Read the rules for each certificate you purchase. You may be able to split up the $100 if it's a gift certificate from a friend. For instance, if you purchase a $20 certificate for $5, you may have to spend at least $40 in food and drinks at the restaurant you chose. But I highly recommend that you read the fine print!

It can be one of 2 ways. You may have to match purchase or it maybe free except for tips/taxes. Some gift cards or certificates have very strict rules check the back of the certificate

Yes. Most businesses required a minimum purchase. Example... You have a $20 gift certificate for ABC restaurant. To use your $20 gift certificate, the restaurant requires a minimum purchase of $40-$100.

The certificate says how much you must purchase to use the certificate. Usually the certificate is only good for 50% of the amount you must purchase

They are a liar

It depends. If it's one gift certificate and the place isn't too ridiculously expensive than you're good, but the small print says things like you can only use one certificate at a time. They have it set up so it's not all that helpful.

I don't think people realize how this whole "scheme" works. (Optionally) First, you acquire a restaurant.com gift card that you or someone else purchased for you. Typical cost is $4 cash per $25 restaurant.com gift card. You then proceed to the restaurant.com website where you realize, soon enough, that your $25 gift card is no more than a coupon to purchase a $25 coupon from a "participating" restaurant. Without a gift card, their direct (no gift card) website prices are typically, $10 cash per $25 restaurant coupon. If all of this is confusing, I'm sure it's meant to be. Continuing, $25 is not really $25. Typically, the said restaurant will require you to spend double the face value of the redeemed coupon, in REAL, out of pocket cash at the restaurant to pay the balance due. NOTE: The restaurant.com gift card is NOT directly redeemable at the restaurant! So, armed with a $25 coupon/voucher you purchased from the restaurant.com website, you must order $50 worth of food (drinks may or may not be included in the purchase requirement). This will ultimately cost you $4-10 (for the restaurant.com gift card/voucher) + $25 of REAL, out of pocket cash. And, all of the above assumes that the restaurant you want to patronize is even on their "participants" list. Further, even if they are supposedly a "participant", they may not be, as reported by MANY commenters. Many restaurants have never heard of restaurant.com and (respectfully?) decline the presented coupon. If you make it through all that, the restaurant is most likely distressed, financially shaky or overpriced to begin with. BUYER BEWARE, BIG TIME! Also notice all the 1 star reviews. They would probably be 0 stars if that was an option. At least you can now make a more informed decision. Good luck.

Of course, your $100 gift certificate (that you probably paid $50 for) is only good for $100 worth of food, so if you spend more than $100, you will need to pay the additional. I agree with the people who posted above, that each restaurant has their own rules, which should be listed on the certificates, however... For Example I've seen fine print such as: "you can only use these during lunch" or "you can only use one certificate per visit". It's a safe bet to call ahead and ask specific questions, and/or ask again before you order. One restaurant I went to said they "no longer accepted Restaurant.com vouchers"... and they felt that because they told Restaurant.com to no longer sell vouchers in their name... they had the right to refuse my voucher. I just paid, I didn't want to cause anymore hassle, but I most likely would have never gone there had I not purchased a voucher... and I won't be going back. Good luck. Use whatever you can, ASAP because with all the unhappy people who purchased Restaurant.com vouchers... they might not be in business much longer and then who knows what will happen to the vouchers we are holding...?